Wendy Usher, Housecall Providers Hospice's longest-serving volunteer, started with our organization in 2011.
Over 15 years, inspiration has come in many forms to Housecall Providers Hospice. One of those sources of inspiration is our longest-serving volunteer, Wendy Usher. Since 2011, she has quietly been doing what hospice volunteers do, spending time with hospice patients, being a companion, listening to stories and bearing witness to transformation. For our special 15th anniversary hospice edition, Wendy shares her experiences to illustrate the profound and meaningful impact of volunteering with Housecall Providers Hospice.
Wendy first started as a volunteer back in 2011, when Housecall Providers Hospice was only two years old. She remembers fondly those early days, seeing Housecall Providers founder Dr. Benneth Husted speak, meeting our hospice’s founder Rebecca Ashling, and mostly, how much Volunteer Coordinator Todd Lawrence did to make it possible for her to volunteer. She laughs now, thinking back, “I just remember saying to Todd, I can only volunteer on Mondays and Thursdays from noon to 12:45 during my lunchbreaks and it can’t be more than a mile from work.” But Todd didn’t miss a beat, happily arranging schedules to make it happen.
“It seems to me now that Todd recognized how important it was to me to be able to do this. It seems selfish almost but there really is something deeply profound about volunteering with Housecall Providers,” Wendy remembers.
Unlike many new volunteers, Wendy came to Housecall Providers Hospice with a wealth of experience in hospice care. She started as a greeter at an inpatient hospice in Washington state at 16 and began volunteering shortly after. She explained that the lessons learned from hospice work are invaluable, teaching that judgment has no place in this environment. By setting aside personal biases, one opens the door to understanding diverse values and experiences, which is essential in providing compassionate care.
Wendy elaborated on the significance of her volunteer work, emphasizing how patients often reflect on what has mattered most in their lives.
"At the end of their lives, people try to resolve the unresolved and find peace. It is a sacred time, and as a volunteer I get to bear witness to this process of life,” Wendy reflects. “It is a profound feeling, enriching everyone involved and a reminder to live life as authentically as possible.”
Addressing those considering volunteering who may be feeling hesitant, Wendy offers reassuring advice. She believes that if someone thinks volunteering might be a good fit, it likely is. She also emphasizes the excellent training provided by Todd Lawrence, which equips new volunteers with the confidence and skills needed to find the work rewarding and beautiful. Wendy's journey with Housecall Providers Hospice stands as a testament to the deep impact of compassionate volunteerism.
